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Family of five found shot to death

The city of Saco, Maine has been rocked by news that a family of five, including three children, was found shot to death in their home. Police say they haven't ruled out the possibility of a murder-suicide.
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SACO, Maine — State police said a mother, father and three children were found dead in their home in Saco on Sunday.

Police say a friend of the family called a worker associated with the apartment complex to check on the family after growing concerned for them.

The worker entered the apartment, saw one body and called Saco police around 1:30 ET Sunday afternoon. When officers arrived, they discovered the other bodies in three different rooms.

In a statement, state police said "all indications are that no one outside of the family was responsible for the deaths." They said a gun was found in the apartment next to one of the bodies.

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Riverview apartments in Saco(Photo: NEWS CENTER)

Although the family has not been identified, police said the children are believed to be 12, 7 and 4 years old.

The bodies will be taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta overnight, with autopsies planned Monday.

Police are notifying next of kin and said they likely will release the family's names Monday.

Heather Nason, a neighbor and babysitter for the children, described the family as "great" and cheerful.

"When we heard that someone was killed, we were obviously very shocked about it. And then to hear who it was, and that the kids were involved, too ... I just fell to the floor. It's just horrible, horrible, horrible," said Nason.

Nason said nobody suspected there was a problem in the house, but there must have "been some hidden demons."